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Quote of the Week

"There is only one taxpayer, whether the province pays or the city pays."Ward 4 councillor Jesse Helmer, on March 2, during a committee debate over what buildings should be saved on the old Victoria Hospital campus.

LONDON (Feb. 18) – By unanimous vote, a city council committee has recommended food trucks be allowed on the streets of London this year.

The community and protective services committee made the decision tonight after a three-hour debate. The number of food trucks, in which is described as a pilot project year, will be limited to eight, unless there is overwhelming desire for more. The licensing charge for this first year will be $1,225.

The city will not require special menu offerings from food truck operators, nor will it stick GPS units on each truck to determine their location. Still, trucks will be restricted to within 25 metres of any restaurant and 100 metres from schools when they are open. The trucks will be able to operate all over the city, although not within residential neighbourhoods.

City council will debate the issue this Tuesday, Feb. 23, but it is likely to pass unanimously. Fourteen of the 15 council members attended tonight’s committee meeting, all of them speaking more or less in favour of the idea.

A city official said after the meeting that if as expected council approves the decision, food trucks could be on city streets by the middle of March.